Saving Zeke for the home stretch is the right play

conner01 · Sep 21, 2021

Diehardblues said:
It absolutely makes no sense to save a young and healthy talent until the end of season. Most ridiculous thread I’ve seen today . I was trying to be nice. Lol

With an extra game you have to manage everyone’s workload including pollard

conner01 · Sep 21, 2021

CyberB0b said:
With our final games of the season coming against WFT, NYG, WFT, Cards, and Eagles, our fate will most likely be decided in this stretch. Zeke has been ridden hard since college and his best days are likely behind him. We are going to need all hands on deck at the end of the season, so it makes sense to lighten his workload and keep some tread on the tires.

The contract extension was obviously a huge mistake, but this is the best course of action going forward.

I don’t think it’s so much saving him for the end of the season as factoring in extra game
I don’t think you want him having a record season for carries at this point in his carrier
19 carries a game would put him at his career high for carries

conner01 · Sep 21, 2021

dplant22 said:
Agreed

I don’t think you want either carrying the ball 20 plus times a game

lqmac1 · Sep 21, 2021

CyberB0b said:
With our final games of the season coming against WFT, NYG, WFT, Cards, and Eagles, our fate will most likely be decided in this stretch. Zeke has been ridden hard since college and his best days are likely behind him. We are going to need all hands on deck at the end of the season, so it makes sense to lighten his workload and keep some tread on the tires.

The contract extension was obviously a huge mistake, but this is the best course of action going forward.

Everybody seems to be giving up on him, but forget that he rarely starts the season strong.

Rockport · Sep 21, 2021

CATCH17 said:
It makes sense to lighten his workload because the guy behind him is a bigger playmaker than he is. That’s why it makes sense.

Seasons young. Give him a chance. No need to quit on him so easily.

nightrain · Sep 21, 2021

I like a fresh Zeke running the ball late in games. He's not fast and flashy like Pollard, but he brings the pain out of the backfield.

Aftershock · Sep 21, 2021

I’d rather have Zeke on those 3rd and short situations where we need to pound it in against a stout run d

use pollard for that flash and unexpected bursts

Thomas82 · Sep 21, 2021

RonnieT24 said:
The Cowboys tried the same thing with Emmitt back in 1996-1997 and it kind of blew up in their faces. Hopefully this time goes better..

And Emmitt was playing hurt in those years too.

bigE79 · Sep 21, 2021

CyberB0b said:
With our final games of the season coming against WFT, NYG, WFT, Cards, and Eagles, our fate will most likely be decided in this stretch. Zeke has been ridden hard since college and his best days are likely behind him. We are going to need all hands on deck at the end of the season, so it makes sense to lighten his workload and keep some tread on the tires.

The contract extension was obviously a huge mistake, but this is the best course of action going forward.

Thank God the 90s cowboys didn't think that way with Emmitt...coaches need to stop babying these players,Zeke wanted his big money deal,now he needs to start earning it,like jimmy said,use him till the wheels fall off.

RonnieT24 · Sep 21, 2021

bigE79 said:
Thank God the 90s cowboys didn't think that way with Emmitt...coaches need to stop babying these players,Zeke wanted his big money deal,now he needs to start earning it,like jimmy said,use him till the wheels fall off.

I don't think Zeke would have any issues with totin the rock 20 times a game.. However he doesn't get to call the plays..

3rdEyewarrior · Sep 21, 2021

dplant22 said:
Agreed

They know what zeke does. He carried the team fir 3 years. Lowering his carries will prolong his career.

RonnieT24 · Sep 21, 2021

3rdEyewarrior said:
They know what zeke does. He carried the team fir 3 years. Lowering his carries will prolong his career.

It absolutely will.. but less carries appears to drive the anti-Zeke crowd to drink.. If he's not leading the NFL in rushing then he's a bum.. Go figure.. The ace in the hole is that having a beast like him available and capably of a 30 carry 200 yard game at any time if called upon is a nice thing to have in your back pocket.. Especially if you have to go play a road game at Lambeau in January..

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2021

CyberB0b said:
With our final games of the season coming against WFT, NYG, WFT, Cards, and Eagles, our fate will most likely be decided in this stretch. Zeke has been ridden hard since college and his best days are likely behind him. We are going to need all hands on deck at the end of the season, so it makes sense to lighten his workload and keep some tread on the tires.

The contract extension was obviously a huge mistake, but this is the best course of action going forward.

Lol.....if that’s what you want to tell yourself.

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2021

RonnieT24 said:
It absolutely will.. but less carries appears to drive the anti-Zeke crowd to drink.. If he's not leading the NFL in rushing then he's a bum.. Go figure.. The ace in the hole is that having a beast like him available and capably of a 30 carry 200 yard game at any time if called upon is a nice thing to have in your back pocket.. Especially if you have to go play a road game at Lambeau in January..

here come all the made up excuses. Pollard is just a great back and deserves more of the load. He is a more effective back with the ball. End of story.

CowboyRoy · Sep 21, 2021

3rdEyewarrior said:
They know what zeke does. He carried the team fir 3 years. Lowering his carries will prolong his career.

Carried them where exactly?

clff15701 · Sep 21, 2021

MountaineerCowboy said:
They're not "saving" Zeke for anything. He's just worn out and not that great anymore.

You guys are underestimating what zeke brings. There were a couple times he got 10 then 5 then 6. It wasn’t his fault they were bouncing him outside he looks to be much quicker. They are using two backs and bringing pollard in motion for jet sweeps. They are also making zeke run outside which isn’t his strong suite. You start running pollard up the middle every play and you will see real quick zekes value to the team. Zeke is a back that always starts slow and takes time to get in a grove. He runs in different formations now from what he ran his first few years. Put him back in the I a few more times a game and you will see old zeke return. You can’t put him in the shotgun every play he needs time to get up speed.

Typhus · Sep 21, 2021

CATCH17 said:
It makes sense to lighten his workload because the guy behind him is a bigger playmaker than he is. That’s why it makes sense.

The good rosters in this league know and understand the importance of having more than just 1 RB that can tote the rock the entire season.
The stars finally aligned and we might have 3 now.
Clement was a solid signing that will prove to be very valuable this season.

Aven8 · Sep 21, 2021

Only problem I have with Zeke is his lean he’s developed the past few years. He’s always leaning forward so much he has a tendency to fall down and lose his balance. I love the fact that he always heading forward but sometimes he falls down when he hasn’t even been tackled yet too.

TNCowboy · Sep 21, 2021

It's got nothing to do with lightening the load, he's only the 2nd best back, so he gets less touches.

GMO415 · Sep 21, 2021

EzE looks average at best.

Saving Zeke for the home stretch is the right play

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